ON PASSAGE 



49 



wrong sloop, roared, 'To starboard, thou fool ! Dost thou 

 not know the Red Rose when thou seest her?' 



As the Pilgrim and the Red Rose came beam to beam 

 Captain Slocum cupped his hands to his mouth and 

 called to his colleague across the water, 'Why dost thou 

 waste such a fair breeze, Master Jason.' 



'We sighted black whale. Master Slocum,' came back 

 the reply, 'but these men of ours are greener than spring 

 cabbages and made such a sorry affair of the chase 

 that we chose to keep them at it in the boats so that 

 they may be sure of the difference between an oar and 

 a harping iron the next time we meet up with the 

 whale.' 



